“Glasnevin is of course famous in this country for having the burials of so many people who shaped Irish history.”
This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with Ultan Moran, historian and tour guide at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin, Ireland's National Cemetery. Ultan shares powerful stories of Irish lives that shaped, and were shaped by, North American history.
In this episode:
- Discover how a Dublin-born soldier became a hero of the American Civil War
- Learn how Frederick Douglass was inspired by Irish abolitionist Daniel O’Connell
- Explore the legacy of Irish-born veterans of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and how their memory is preserved today
"Veterans are constantly faced with problems. You're constantly having to solve them. You almost don't know how to walk by a problem, and not solve it."
This week on Story Behind the Stone, we're joined by Kristin Sargent, founder of Sargent Initiatives. We explore Kristin’s transition from the US Army’s air defense artillery to her work at the intersection of technology and national security, helping companies navigate the complexities of the defense sector.
In this episode:
Discover Kristin’s journey from serving as a unit Information Assurance Officer to leading modernization efforts at Booz Allen Hamilton and Amazon Web Services.
Learn about the core challenges entrepreneurs face when entering the government system, including identifying essential requirements and managing corporate resources efficiently.
Hear Kristin’s "Measured Restraint" philosophy for business growth and why she believes the defense sector is an "endurance sport" that requires patience and C-suite commitment.
Explore the unique value veterans bring to the tech industry, fueled by a desire to solve archaic processes and a commitment to the "Mission, Men, Me" hierarchy of service.
Learn more: Sargent Initiatives and the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum
Listen on Wreaths Across America Radio on Friday December 19: https://wreathsacrossamerica.org/
"I think more importantly for my fellow veterans is just remember the promise that you made to never leave anyone behind."
This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with Stuart Smith, who has dedicated 33 years to serving his fellow veterans. We explore Stuart's military service, his transition to civilian life, and his commitment to supporting veteran-owned businesses through organizations like the National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC) and the National Association of Veteran Owned Businesses (NaVOBA).
In this episode:
- Discover Stuart's personal journey from joining the Army as a "last option" to transitioning successfully into human resources and organizational development
- Learn about the work of the National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC) and the National Association of Veteran Owned Businesses (NaVOBA) in helping veteran small businesses thrive in government contracting and commercial supplier diversity spaces
- Hear why Stuart is honored to MC the Wreaths Across America laying at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery and what that day means for the community
Learn more: National Veteran Small Business Coalition and National Association of Veteran Owned Businesses
Listen on Apple, Spotify, and Wreaths Across America Radio
"We all live in the world created by the First World War."
This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with Attila Szalay-Berzeviczy, author of In the Centennial Footsteps of the Great War. Attila shares how a personal journey to Sarajevo evolved into a global project documenting the centenary of World War I.
In this episode:
- Discover why the First World War remains the most transformative period of the last 200 years
- Learn how Attila navigated war zones and military restrictions to capture rare commemorative moments
- Explore the untold stories of frontier theaters that shaped the outcome of the war
Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/InTheCentennialFootstepsOfTheGreatWar
Listen on Apple, Spotify, and Wreaths Across America Radio
"Every soldier’s story deserves to be remembered."
This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with Courtney Trollinger, Vice President of Development at the Army Historical Foundation, the organization behind the National Museum of the United States Army. Courtney shares how the Foundation is safeguarding Army history and inspiring future generations through immersive exhibits.
In this episode:
- Discover why the Army was the last branch to have a national museum and how that changed in 2020
- Explore the museum’s awe-inspiring galleries, including World War I artifacts and the Soldier Stories exhibit
- Learn about upcoming projects like the Call to Arms exhibit, the Nisei Traveling Exhibit, and plans for a memorial garden on the museum campus
Learn more: https://www.armyhistory.org
"She deserved better, that she hadn’t joined the military. Me and my husband had both chosen to serve our country, but she hadn’t made that choice yet."
This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with Louise Fetigan, founder of Little Troopers in the United Kingdom. Louise shares how her personal journey as a military parent led to the creation of a national charity supporting children with parents in the British Armed Forces.
In this episode:
- Learn how Little Troopers supports over 25,000 children annually through therapy, school programs, and family reconnection camps
- Hear how the new Little Troopers Clubs are creating continuity for children who move schools frequently
- Discover how Christmas Smiles boxes bring joy to families separated by deployment during the holidays
Learn more: littletroopers.net
“No matter how you choose to commemorate or how you choose to remember people, just make sure you say their names.”
This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with Dr. Megan Wang, Historian and Academic Access Manager at the Royal Air Force Museum. Megan shares her passion for commemoration and the stories behind war graves in Britain and beyond.
In this episode:
- Understand the unique challenges of commemorating war dead buried far from the battlefield
- Hear how original grave markers reveal unexpected stories of respect between enemies
- Explore the future of commemoration and how museums connect new generations to military history
Learn more: https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk
"Remembrance unites us and brings us together."
This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with Philippa Rawlinson, Managing Director of the National Memorial Arboretum in the UK. Philippa shares how the Arboretum fosters connection through nature and storytelling, and why remembrance is more important than ever in today’s world.
In this episode:
- Learn how a memorial to the Desert Rats helped Philippa connect with her grandfather’s legacy
- Discover how the Arboretum engages 25,000 young people annually through immersive education
- Hear how the Arboretum is evolving with new memorials, including tributes to parliamentarians and Muslim soldiers of the World Wars
Learn more: https://www.nma.org.uk
Listen on Apple, Spotify, and Wreaths Across America Radio
"Every day is different. Every day is exciting. And one of the things that drives me the most is this feeling of the overwhelming amount of stories that there are to be told at Arlington.”
New this week is our episode featuring Dr. Allison S. Finkelstein with U.S. Army National Military Cemeteries Arlington National Cemetery where we learn about the incredible scale, scope, and deep meaning of this historic American landmark.
*Undertold Stories of Women in WWI: The "Hello Girls" and "reconstruction aides"
*Unconventional Memorials: Learn about Arlington's beautiful, living memorials, including Arlington's memorial trees, part of their Level 3 Memorial Arboretum.
*America's 250th Anniversary in 2026: The cemetery's plans to highlight graves and sites connected to Anniversary.
“We have about 17,000 historical markers in Texas and every single one tells a story worth remembering.” – Charles Sadnick, Texas Historical Commission
In this week's episode we speak with Charles Sadnick and Bob Brinkman of the Texas Historical Commission.
Charles and Bob talk about preserving Texas history through their historical marker program, where each marker reveals a moment, a person, or a community that shaped the state’s identity.
In this episode:
- Learn how to submit a story idea by November 15th that may become a part of the Undertold Marker Program
- Hear about unique historical markers including a Cold War missile silo, a Korean-Texan heritage site, and historic Texas cemeteries
- Explore how the team is using mobile apps and digital archives to connect Texans with their past
"The ultimate purpose of the Casualty Identification Program is for the missing to be buried with their name, by their unit, and in the presence of their family."
This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with Alexandra McKinnon, historian with the Canadian Department of Defence Casualty Identification Program. Alexandra shares how her team is using historical research, forensic anthropology, and DNA to reconnect families with lost loved ones from the First World War, WWII, Korea, and beyond.
In this episode:
- Learn how attestation papers, ancestry trees, and social media help solve century-old mysteries
- Hear how a soldier’s height and age can narrow a list of 1,300 missing names
- Discover why Hill 70 remains one of Canada’s most overlooked battlefields
"War does something to you...it affects you for the rest of your life."
This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with New York Times bestselling author and veteran Stephen Harding. Stephen shares how a year in military hospitals shaped his lifelong commitment to telling the stories of those who served and those who never came home.
His work explores the human cost of war, the complexities of remembrance, and the quiet heroism often lost to history.
In this episode:
- Learn how FBI agents in Army uniforms hunted American traitors in WWII
- Discover the story of a German officer who defied the SS and died defending French prisoners alongside American troops
- Hear why military cemeteries carry a different kind of weight and what they reveal about national memory
"We want the public sentiment to turn away from war and towards reconciliation."
This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with Professor Anoma Pieris and Arthur Tsakonas from the University of Melbourne about the Yokohama War Cemetery and the exhibition they co-curated at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne.
Eucalypts of Hodogaya is more than an architectural story. It’s a reflection on memory, diplomacy, and the quiet power of collaboration. Anoma and Arthur share how Australian and Japanese architects worked together in the 1940s to build a cemetery that honors the dead and invites the living to reflect.
In this episode:
- Learn how a Japanese garden design shaped a Commonwealth cemetery
- Hear the story of a POW who taught architecture in a prison camp
- Discover why reconciliation is central to the exhibition’s message
“They're ordinary people who in a moment of time on the battlefield, courage met circumstance, and they did something extraordinary.”
This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with Mike Caldwell and Kevin Basik of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation. Together, they’re building a museum, a monument, and a movement to help people reconnect with the values that hold a nation together.
Mike shares how the museum’s design reflects the weight and meaning of the medal, while Kevin introduces the Griffin Institute, a leadership hub helping people face life’s battles with courage, character, and clarity.
In this episode:
- Hear how the Griffin Institute is helping leaders define their creed
- Find out why Arlington, Texas was chosen as the home for the museum
- Discover how Medal of Honor stories are being used in classrooms and corporate boardrooms
"I didn’t go looking for it. It found me."
This week we speak with Cyndi Benavides, Army veteran and founder of the nonprofit Mallory Cemetery, a historic cemetery tucked into the heart of Franklin, Tennessee.
In this episode, Cyndi shares how a quiet walk in 2020 turned into a mission of preservation, storytelling, and connection.
In this episode:
- Learn how one veteran became the voice for a forgotten cemetery
- Hear about the Revolutionary War patriot, John Mallory, buried on site
- Find out how Cyndi rallied the community behind the cemetery's restoration following a devastating hurricane
"Just because they hang up the uniform doesn’t mean they stop serving."
This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with Steve Topham of Wounded Warriors Canada about the healing power of remembrance, the importance of community, and the transformative experience of the Battlefield Bike Ride.
From Vimy Ridge to the Scheldt Estuary, Steve shares how this annual ride helps veterans, first responders, and families reconnect with history, with each other, and with themselves.
In this episode:
- Learn how the Battlefield Bike Ride became a gateway to healing
- Hear stories of veterans rediscovering their family history on the ride
- Discover why trauma is trauma, and why no one should struggle alone
Learn more: woundedwarriors.ca and bbrseries.ca
“We had a nominee called Bryan Phillips, unbelievable lad. Double amputee. He was in the Irish Guards, lost his legs in Afghanistan. And when I saw his name was called out and he stood up ... I turned to my wife and I said, that's why I've done this.”
This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with Jason Gillard, veteran, entrepreneur, and founder of Veteran Awards Ireland.
Jason’s mission is nothing short of transformative: giving veterans permission to step out of the shadows, celebrate their service, and reconnect with community and business.
In this episode:
- How the Awards are rewriting the narrative for veterans in Northern Ireland and expanding to the Republic of Ireland in 2027
- The life-changing power of recognition
- Learn about Connect Through Service Ltd and the power of trust in veteran employment
Follow: Veteran Awards Ireland on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X
"I didn’t understand the stakes until I saw what these men had done and how they continue to serve."
This week we speak with John Shertzer, Executive Director of the Medal of Honor Foundation, about the sacred mission of preserving valor, inspiring citizenship, and connecting generations through the legacy of America’s highest military honor.
From classroom programs to national museums, John shares how the Foundation is amplifying the stories of Medal of Honor recipients and helping young people rediscover courage, service, and civic pride.
In this episode:
- Learn how the Foundation is reaching 20,000+ teachers and transforming classroom culture
- Hear the story behind the real-life Medal of Honor ceremony used in Forrest Gump
- Discover how the Citizen Honors Awards spotlight everyday acts of heroism
"Commemoration is another kind of service. It is about remembering those who came before and inspiring those who come next."
This week on Story Behind the Stone, we speak with Jay Singh-Sohal, active reservist, veteran, Chairman of the World War I Sikh Memorial, Trustee of The Commonwealth War Graves Foundation, about representation, remembrance, and the power of storytelling.
From Birmingham to Burma, Jay shares how his personal journey led to a global mission honouring Sikh and Commonwealth contributions, challenging historical gaps, and helping future generations connect with service and sacrifice.
In this episode:
Explore the memorial and Jay’s work: [Search “WWI Sikh Memorial” or “Jay Singh-Sohal”]
Listen on Apple, Spotify, and Wreaths Across America Radio at the links below.
“We’re carrying that torch of remembrance - that baton we’re passing over for future generations.”
This week on Story Behind the Stone, we sit down with Ben Mayne, battlefield tour guide and UK Director of Liberation Route Europe, to talk about remembrance, reconnection, and the power of walking in the footsteps of history.
From Normandy to the Netherlands, Ben shares how Liberation Route Europe is building a network of trails, stories, and sites that help families, veterans, and future generations connect with the past in deeply personal ways.
In this episode:
Learn more about Liberation Route Europe: www.liberationroute.com